Automobile signal



I; R. JOHNSON.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL- APPLICATION FILED 050.2. 1921.

Patented. Apr. 11, 1922.

nrrbmvfys Jun M 5. wide ISAAC R. JOHNSON, OF NEW YORK, N, Y5

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL.

Application filed. December 2, 1921.

T 0 all w hom it may concern Be it known that I, IsAAo R. JoI-INsoN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Automobile Signal, of which the following is a description.

My invention relates to direction signals for automobiles and particularly to a semaphore signal pivotally mounted to be swung to a position projecting from a side of the car or to a lowered position.

The general object of my invention is to provide a signal that, when projecting, will yield to a blow in either direction to prevent breakage of the signal.

A further object of the invention is to provide a signal of the indicated type arranged to vibrate in response to the movements of the vehicle to increase the visibility of the signal.

The manner in which the above and other objects are attained will clearly appear from the specific description following.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, it being understood that the drawings are merely illustrative of one example of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a signal embodying my invention showing the same emplaced on an automobile;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the signal;

Figure 3 is a plan view thereof;

Figures 4.- and 5 are views on the opposite sides of the pivoted end of the signal showing the electrical contacts;

Figure 6 is a cross section on the line 66, Figure 2.

In carrying out my invention in accordance with the illustrated example, the signal consists of a semaphore formed of a securing section 10 and a front section 11 so connected that the front section may vibrate vertically in its own plane to increase the visibility of the signal. The front section has a laterally yieldable signal member 1.2, shown as formed with a hand 13. The securing section 10 is pivotally mounted by a screw 14 or the like which secures it to the automobile A'adjacent to the seat B.

Said section 10 has secured to ita pull cord 15 here shown as connected to an eye 18 at the top of said section and running Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 11, 11222.

Serial No. 519,494.

11 and its yielding portion 12 and hand 13, i

the section 11 is pivotally connected with the securing section 10, there being shown for the purpose a plate 19 rigid with the section 11 and overlapping the section 10, the overlapping portion having a'transverse screw 20 or equivalent pivot means extending into the section. At each side of the semaphore I provide coil springs 21 extending across the joint between the sections 10, 11 and secured at its ends to said sections, respectively.

The front portion 11 is formed of yield ing sections the forward part 12 being hinged to the rear part by spring hinges 22 so that said front portion may yield laterally in either direction should it meet an obstruction or be struck by another automobile, thereby avoiding breakage of the sig nal. In addition to the spring hinges I prefer to employ also coil springs 23 extending across the hinge joint and fastened in front and in the rear thereof.

For night signaling the hand is equipped with an electric lamp 24; the conductors 25 of which pass through a transverse hole 26 in the hand 18 and thence along the lower edge of the semaphore to a point adjacent the pivot. A rigid element 27 is mounted adjacent to the securing section 10 and rela tively to which said section may turn. The.

element 27 and the section 10 each have flexible contacts 28 of arcuate form and are preferably on curves struck approximately from the center of the holes 30 through which the pivot screw 14 passes. The arrangement of the contacts is such that when the semaphore is raised by a pull on the cord 15 the contacts 29 thereon will. engage the contacts 28 on element 27 and close the circuit. Normally. the contacts 28, 29 are deflected away from the face of the element 28 and the section 10 to insure a proper engagement thereof when the semaphore is raised.

I would state in conclusion that while the illustrated example constitutes a practical embodiment of my invention I do not limit myself strictly to the exact details herein illustrated, since, manifestly, the same can be considerably varied without departure from the spirit of'the invention as defined in the appended claims. 7

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim: 7

1'. An optionally operated semaphore signal including a securing section adapted to be pivotally mounted on a vehicle, and a front section pivoted to the securing section to vibrate vertically in the plane of the semaphore in response to the movements of the vehicle; together with spring means crossing the joint of the sections and secured to said sections respectively.

2. An optionally operated semaphore signal including a securing section adapted to be pivotally mounted on a vehicle, and a front section pivoted to the b to vibrate vertically in the plane of the semaphore, said front section having a joint so that the forward portion thereof may swing in either direction transversely to the plane of the'semaphore. l a

3. An optionally operated semaphore sig nal including a securing section adapted to be pivotally mounted on a vehicle, and a front section pivoted to the securing section to vibrate vertically in the plane of the semaphore, said front section having a joint so that the forward port-ion thereon may swing in either direction transversely to the plane of the semaphore, and spring means to-restore said front portion to the plane of the semaphore after movement in either direction.

securin section 7 4. An optionally operated semaphore sig nal having means to pivotally mount the same to permit the raising and lowering of said signal, means connected to the semaphore for raising and lowering the same, the front portion of the signal being yieldingly mounted to swing in either direction in response to a blow, and spring means to restore the front portion after a movement in either direction. a

5. An optionally operated semaphore signal adapted to be pivoted to a vehicle body and bodily swingable thereon, said semaphore comprising a securing section, a pivoted section on the securing section to vibrate vertically in the plane of the semaphore, said pivoted section having a joint so that the forward portion thereon may swing in a direction transversely to the plane of the semaphore. p

6. An optionally operated semaphore sig- 'nal adapted to be pivoted to a vehicle body and bodily s'wingable thereon, said semaphore comprising a securing section, a pivoted section on the securing section to vibrate vertically in the plane of the semaphore, said pivoted section having a joint so that the forward portion thereon may swing in a direction transversely to'the plane of the semaphore, and spring means.

on the semaphore to restore said pivoted sections and said joint to their normal position after'an impact or jolt.

7 SAAC R. JOHNSON. 

